05/04/2023
We were recently accused of being "anti-education" because we encourage students in skills and trades that don't necessarily require a college degree. But a good friend of mine had a the PERFECT response (so much so, I wish I would have written it! :)) as it does an excellent job of really explaining how deeply the benefits of our programming can go in terms of education.
Here's her brilliant response:
A program like this is bound to engage kids in their education. These subjects are not taught at all schools, and if they are they are never for kids below high school level. 10 year olds are in the 4th grade- which means 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders have access to these classes years ahead of time!
Also, if a student is behind academically in high school they may not have access to classes like this at all as their elective periods are taken up by (much needed) interventions to get them caught up. This program could also ensure these kids don’t have to miss out on what their peers learn, just because they struggle with reading or math. Getting a struggling kid engaged in learning is the best way to get growth.
If kids like the photography workshop- they can further pursue education around photography. The chemistry of developing pictures, the geometry of the rule of thirds and perspectives, learning how photography has impacted history- suddenly these school topics become more engaging to the kids because they are able to make real-world connections.
I’d say the same thing for everything else. A kid takes filmmaking and screenwriting and falls in love? Language Arts class probably just became a lot more relevant to them. They love the repair workshop? Maybe a they’re inspired to go to a trade school like HVAC, mechanic, electrician, or carpentry. A kid loves candy and chocolate making? They’ll need that math to make their treats, and chemistry to get it right. Using the scientific method to come up with new recipes? Sure fire way to get a kid excited to experiment. Foraging in the mountains? Hello newfound love of biology, ecology and botany! In my own school I teach a class similar to Old World Crafts, and on Monday we are touring an art college in Denver that has a fashion design program, along with the rest of the arts, and the kids are stoked to go to this college.
This program will not scare kids from following their education, but will provide opportunities to learn things they aren’t currently learning in school which leads to all the learning they’ll WANT to engage in back in school.
